College of Charleston names Amanda Butler ninth women's basketball head coach

Butler, the former Clemson coach and recent Louisville assistant, returns to South Carolina to lead the Cougars.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:41pm

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The College of Charleston has named Amanda Butler as the ninth head coach of the women's basketball program. Butler, who previously served as the head coach at Clemson and an assistant at Louisville, brings a wealth of experience and success to the Cougars.

Why it matters

The hiring of Butler represents a major coup for the College of Charleston, as she is a proven winner with a track record of leading programs to NCAA Tournament appearances. Her arrival is expected to elevate the Cougars' women's basketball program and help them continue their ascent as one of the top mid-major programs in the country.

The details

Butler comes to Charleston after two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville, where she helped lead the Cardinals to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 berth this year. Prior to that, she was the head coach at Clemson, where she was named the 2019 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Tigers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 16 years. During her 31-year career, Butler has helped coach programs to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including one Elite Eight appearance, two Sweet 16 berths, and five Round of 32 appearances.

  • On Tuesday, the College of Charleston announced the decision to hire Amanda Butler as the ninth head coach in program history.
  • A press conference is slated for Wednesday to formally introduce Butler and another recent hire, John Groce, as the new men's basketball coach.

The players

Amanda Butler

The new head coach of the College of Charleston women's basketball team, with a proven track record of success as a head coach at Clemson and an assistant coach at Louisville.

Matt Roberts

The College of Charleston athletics director, who praised Butler's enthusiasm for the school and the Charleston community, as well as her ability to develop student leaders and navigate the modern landscape of college athletics.

John Groce

The new head coach of the College of Charleston men's basketball team, who was also recently hired by the school.

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What they’re saying

“When looking for the next leader of our Women's Basketball program, we wanted to pursue a proven winner, a person with a passion for developing student leaders and someone who embraces the modern-day landscape of college athletics. Amanda Butler is that person.”

— Matt Roberts, College of Charleston athletics director

“College of Charleston is a dream job of mine. Opportunities like this one don't come often and I'm honored to be the choice to lead such an elite group.”

— Amanda Butler

What’s next

The College of Charleston will formally introduce Amanda Butler and John Groce as the new women's and men's basketball coaches, respectively, at a press conference on Wednesday.

The takeaway

The hiring of Amanda Butler as the new head coach of the College of Charleston women's basketball team represents a significant investment in the program's future success. Her proven track record of leading teams to the NCAA Tournament and developing top talent is expected to elevate the Cougars and help them continue their ascent as one of the premier mid-major programs in the country.